Signature Programs

REALTALK Speaker Series

Among the Center’s signature programs is REALTALK, an annual speaker series dedicated to bringing Relatable, Empowering, Authentic Leaders to campus. Through candid conversations and personal stories, REALTALK seeks to engage, inspire, and support the mental health and well-being of Cornell’s diverse community of women and gender-expansive students.

Each year, REALTALK explores a timely and relevant theme, bringing thought-provoking alumni speakers to campus to share their own vivid and heartfelt experiences. Through student-moderated panel discussions, REALTALK creates space for participants to listen, reflect and engage in meaningful dialogue, and consider ways to take action. 

REALTALK is supported in perpetuity through an endowment established by the Cornell chapter of Delta Gamma (DG). The series is the result of a strategic partnership between GenEq and DG, whose members collaborate each year to develop, design and deliver each REALTALK event. REALTALK represents one of the ways the Center continues to address relevant issues, foster meaningful conversations and provide impactful resources to the Cornell community for generations to come.

The REALTALK recordings are available to anyone for personal, professional or academic use. The complete REALTALK speaker series is available through the REALTALK Video on Demand channel, with recordings of individual events also available below.

REALTALK 2024: Thriving Through Community
Highlight Reel (3 min)
Full Program (60 min)

REALTALK 2023: Staying True to You
Highlight Reel (4 min)
Full Program (60 min)

REALTALK 2022: Personal Journeys to Well-Being
Highlight Reel (3 min)
Full Program (60 min)

SAGE: Sport and Gender Equity

Facilitated group discussions led by student facilitators and supervisory coaching staff about topics that aim to empower the attendees and promote the cultivation of positive cultures within the Cornell Athletics community. Vocal participation in the conversations is optional, and attendees are provided relevant resources related to program topics. Each event aims to provide support to the athletes directly and elicit suggestions for improving the program or culture of Cornell Athletics through both conversations during each event and post-event feedback surveys.

Empowering discussions promote a safer and supportive environment for women-identifying and non-binary athletes to share or hear from others about their experiences, challenges, triumphs, and ambitions. Connection within a community of other student-athletes can promote the collective strength of not only their individual team but also the women-identifying athletes within the Cornell Athletics program, expanding their network, and helping to build meaningful connections. Within the small group discussions, topics arise such as nutrition, mental health, and sport training. Resources are provided that can help educate and support the well-being of these athletes by providing information on these areas and where they can access these resources on the Cornell campus.

Themes from past events have included topics such as:societal attitudes, pressure to conform, and stereotypes; social media/visibility (appearance vs athletic ability); navigating intersecting identities of femininity and athleticism; create a culture within our community that values women-identified and non-binary athletes in sport; cultivating self-esteem and pressure to perform.
 

No, You’re Not Overreacting

No You're Not Overreacting is a student-led recurring program that seeks to cultivate an environment of inclusivity and empowerment for women of color on campus. By prioritizing joy and community-building, this initiative aims to mitigate the effects of microaggressions, sexism, and racism that frequently define interactions for far too many. Our program endeavors to build community and allow for nuanced discussions, including on the intersections of identity and joy. Come as you are; we want to provide space for you to be authentically you.